Katy Perry to Host, Perform at 2017 VMAs

Katy Perry will host the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, it was announced Thursday. The pop superstar will emcee and perform at the annual awards ceremony after scoring five VMA nominations earlier this week.

“I’ve been training with MTV in zero gravity, eating astronaut ice cream, and I’m on a group text with Buzz Aldrin and Neil deGrasse Tyson,” Perry said in a statement. “Come August 27th, I’ll be ready to be your MOONWOMAN! Brace for impact, kids.”

Viacom’s head of music and music talent, global entertainment group, Bruce Gillmer, added: “We’re thrilled to have global phenomenon Katy Perry as the host and a performer at the 2017 VMAs. She is at the forefront of music culture and the perfect person to anchor this year’s show, which promises to be one of the most diverse and music-filled in VMA history.”

Perry, who’s set to serve as a judge on ABC’s upcoming American Idol reboot, will take the VMA stage ahead of the launch of a world tour for her most recent, chart-topping album, Witness.

Kendrick Lamar leads this year’s VMA nominees with eight nods, with Perry and The Weeknd tied for second with five nods each. Bruno Mars and DJ Khaled each have four nominations, with Ed Sheeran and Alessia Cara tied with three nominations each. Fan voting in eight categories is already open.

The 2017 VMAs are set to air live from the Forum in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, Aug. 27, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.